Home for colored children board OK with abuse inquiry

The former Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children outside Dartmouth is now vacant and referred to as the Old Home. The home is the subject of a class action that alleges children in care were subjected to abuse and neglect by home staff. (TIM KROCHAK / Staff)

THOSE NOW IN CHARGE of a Dartmouth facility at the centre of horrific child abuse allegations dating back decades say they would not object to a public inquiry.

"We will co-operate fully with any inquiry that was to take place,” Sylvia Parris, chairwoman of the board of directors of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children, said Monday.

Earlier Monday, Parris said in a written statement that the board hopes and expects that if any people associated with the home carried out abuse, they should be brought to justice.

“To that end, we have no objection if the Nova Scotia government decides to hold a public inquiry into these serious allegations, so long as it does not impede or delay the prosecution of these serious criminal charges or the disposition of the civil lawsuits filed against the home,” she said.

Tony Smith, one of the original claimants of abuse at the home, says a public inquiry is needed to stop similar incidents from occurring. He said he is pleased the home has finally made a public statement.

“I think it is a positive step for them. It is a step in the right direction.

“It is surprising that it took so long, but it is here now, better late than never.”

Smith said the home’s statement should be a cue for Premier Darrell Dexter to call an inquiry as soon as possible.

“If the home is willing to look in that direction, (the government) should be looking in that direction as well,” Smith said.

Dexter said while his government isn’t ruling an inquiry in or out, it feels the legal process needs to run its course. In particular, the premier said, there are concerns over whether an inquiry would affect the integrity of the police investigation and the disposition of a class action.

“At this point, we want to make sure that whatever additional response there is to the due process of law <ellipsis> that it is appropriate,” the premier said.

But Halifax lawyer Ray Wagner said that in terms of the timing of an inquiry, the sooner the better.

His law firm, Wagners, represents former residents of the home in the class action, for which an application for court certification has been made. A ruling is expected next June.

“When one of the key players says it doesn’t object to an inquiry, it behooves us to say why isn’t there one,” Wagner said Monday.

“It is in everybody’s interest that we get to the bottom of what has happened and why it happened, and so then we can prevent this from happening (in the future), and we can start a healing process.”

Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil also issued a release Monday reiterating his call for an inquiry.

“We have the home now supporting an inquiry into its own past,” McNeil said.

“The Dexter government must stop offering excuses and get the inquiry started.”

Also Monday, Parris said in her statement that the home’s board is disturbed by the nature of the allegations against several former staff members and “deeply saddened at the possibility that children who were placed in the home may have suffered abuse at the hands of former staff.”

Parris said the board hadn’t commented before now as it has been having discussions about the matter and was required to seek legal advice.

“We finally got the last T crossed on Friday,” she said.

The Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children runs the Akoma Family Centre, which offers programs for children and teenagers and has rigorous standards on hiring and safety, the release said.

“It is currently working with children, and so we want to get a message out that says the children themselves and their families don’t need to worry about the quality of care that these children are receiving,” Parris said. “We are very committed to high-quality care.”

The Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children will hold its annual broadcast to raise funds from the community on Dec. 9.

Parris said she does not know if the allegations about past abuse will affect donations.

“It would be hard to judge that in advance,” she said. “Any funds that we do get from that fundraising event go toward meeting the needs of the children.”